Air vent cover with one-handed operation

ABSTRACT

A method and an article of manufacture are disclosed for covering structural openings, such as air vents, air intakes, and the like. In various embodiments, an exterior push or pull mechanism is used to attach and firmly hold a vent cover over an opening to form a substantially air-tight seal around the opening. A rigid or semi-rigid rod with an attachment mechanism at an interior end of the rod passes through the vent cover. The attachment mechanism includes a hook, a loop, a suction cup, a strong magnet, and the like. The push mechanism on the exterior of the vent cover includes a spring, a screw, and a shaft gripper, among others. The attachment and push mechanisms are configured to be easily operated with one hand from outside the vent cover, and also to attach the vent cover from a distance without touching the vent cover.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates generally to air ventilation. More specifically, this application relates to a method and apparatus for covering air vent opening with a cover which may be operated or installed with a single hand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings, when considered in connection with the following description, are presented for the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected.

FIG. 1 shows an example air vent used for heating or cooling built into a structure;

FIG. 2A shows an example spring-loaded air vent cover covering an air vent;

FIG. 2B shows an example cross sectional view of section A-A of air vent cover of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 shows an example cross sectional view of an air vent covered with a screw operated vent cover; and

FIGS. 4A and 4B show example cross sectional views of an air vent covered with vent cover operated with shaft grip mechanisms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the present disclosure is described with reference to several illustrative embodiments described herein, it should be clear that the present disclosure should not be limited to such embodiments. Therefore, the description of the embodiments provided herein is illustrative of the present disclosure and should not limit the scope of the disclosure as claimed. In addition, while the following description references using a one-hand operation of vent covers having a single attachment point, it will be appreciated that the disclosure may include two or more attachment points, for example, for large openings and be operated with two hands.

Briefly described, a method and an article of manufacture are disclosed for covering structural openings, such as air vents, air intakes, windows, hatches, and the like. In various embodiments, an exterior push mechanism is used to attach and firmly hold a vent cover over an opening to form a substantially air-tight seal around the opening. A rigid or semi-rigid rod with an attachment mechanism at an interior end of the rod closest to the vent, passes through the vent cover via an air-tight opening to the exterior of the vent cover. The attachment mechanism includes a hook, a loop, a suction cup, an expanding cup or set of fingers, a strong magnet, and the like. The exterior push mechanism includes a spring, a screw, and a shaft gripper, among others. The push mechanism is coupled with the portion of the rigid rod on the exterior of the vent cover to force the vent cover firmly against the wall or structure in which the vent is located. The attachment and push mechanisms are configured to be easily operated with one hand from outside the vent cover, and also to attach the vent cover remotely from a distance where it cannot be reached or touched by hand directly.

With global fuel shortage, environmental concerns, and high cost of energy, it is highly desirable, and sometimes mandated by government, to make buildings and structures such as homes, offices, stores, and the like, highly energy efficient. One of the sources of energy waste is air leakage from leaky windows, doors, and HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) ducts. To seal such leaks, first the amounts and locations of leakage must be identified, usually via an energy audit. In an energy audit, an interior space, such as a house, or a duct system, is pressurized, for example, using air blowers, and then the pressure and/or air flow is measured to identify the rate and location of air leakage. Air vents have to be sealed during this exercise to prevent leakage through the air vents and isolate the space being tested. Hence, air vents are generally covered from outside the ducts to seal them. Various methods have been used for sealing air vents.

Air vents are covered using sticky tapes or vent covers attached to vent registers using elastic cords or springs pulling the vent cover towards the vent register. Some problems persist with the existing methods. For example, sticky tapes are not very effective, are hard to handle and apply, and waste material as they are generally not reusable. Existing pull-based vent covers are reusable but require two hands to attach them to the vent register and later detach them. Additionally, such vent covers cannot be attached or detached from a distance without direct hand contact and manipulation.

It is desirable to attach a vent cover to a vent register externally with one hand and also remotely without direct hand contact.

FIG. 1 shows an example air vent used for heating or cooling built into a structure. Vent arrangement 100 generally includes a structural component such as a wall, a floor, or a ceiling 106 having an opening therein such as air vent 102 with grill or grill bars 108 terminating an air duct channel 104 used for directing air flow.

FIG. 2A shows an example spring-loaded air vent cover covering an air vent. In various embodiments, air vent cover arrangement 200 includes air vent 202 with grill bars 218, covered with vent cover 204 having a rigid or semi rigid rod 206 passing through a surface of the vent cover via an air-sealed opening 208. The rigid rod may further have an attachment mechanism such as hook 210 at one end of the rod in the interior of the vent cover and be coupled on the exterior of vent cover 204 with a push mechanism such as spring 216 and handle or knob 214 used for one-handed attachment of the vent cover to the grill or grill bars. Vent cover 204 may also have an edge seal component such as gasket 212 to make the vent cover substantially air-tight when covering the air vent. In various embodiments, air vent cover 204, rigid rod 206, handle 214, spring 216, and gasket 212 are assembled together and used together as one unit or one vent cover assembly. An extension handle 220 having an interface component 222 for coupling with handle extension interface 224 may be used for remote operation of the air vent cover assembly. In various embodiments, air hose 226 coupled with air blower 228 is further coupled with vent cover 204 via an airtight inlet to pressurize the air handling system such as HVAC ducts and canals.

In various embodiments, air vent cover 204 is a low-height rectangular cube to minimize bulk and protrusion when covering the air vent. In other embodiments, the air vent cover may have any other geometric shape, such as semispherical, and size necessary to cover a selected opening. Vent cover 204 generally has one or more walls or surfaces creating an interior space to enclose the air vent. In some embodiments, air vent cover is constructed from substantially clear or semi-transparent and rigid or semi-rigid material such as clear plastic, tempered glass, plexi-glass, and the like, while in other embodiments, air vent cover 204 is constructed from any suitable rigid or semi-rigid opaque material such as various metals like steel, aluminum, tin, polymers, nylon, polypropylene, and the like.

In various embodiments, vent cover 204 includes a sealing component at the edges which surround the air vent to make the cover substantially air-tight. The sealing components may include various rubber gaskets, neoprene strips, air-impermeable foam, or other suitable and reusable weather stripping components.

In various embodiments, rigid rod 206 is constructed from hard plastic, wood, metal, or any other durable and rigid or semi-rigid material. The rod may have integral attachment components such as hook 210 to couple with grill bars 218, or other attachment mechanisms coupled with the interior tip of the rod operating in the interior of the vent cover. The rod passes through the vent cover via an air-tight opening to the exterior of the vent cover. The air-tight rod opening in the vent cover may be a hole sealed around with a flexible gasket to allow the rod to move or slip in and out of the hole during the attachment or detachment operation.

In various embodiments, the length of the rod may be adjustable to allow reaching high ceilings without the use of a ladder or other aid and without needing direct hand contact with the vent cover. In various embodiments, the rod may be telescopic to extend, it may have an extra handle coupled with it, for example, by screwing in or otherwise attaching to the rod to extend its length, and the like. Extension handle interface component 222 may be a keyed to couple with extension interface 224 of the handle to allow positive rotation of the handle from a distance without manually touching the handle. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many other handle interfaces may be used without departing from the spirit of the present disclosures.

In various embodiments, the attachment mechanism includes a hook, a loop, a suction cup, an expanding cup or set of fingers, a strong magnet, and the like. In general, any mechanism which can attach the vent cover with sufficient force to the structure around the air vent to provide a substantially air-tight seal may be used. The attachment mechanisms are configured to be attachable by one hand acting externally at the exterior of the vent cover. For example, if the attachment mechanism is a hook rigidly coupled with the rod, the operator may push the rod forward to position the hook behind grill bars, and turn the rod to engage the hook around grill bars 218. For other attachment mechanisms, additional control mechanisms, such as a steel cable in a semi-rigid conduit, similar to bicycle brake cable assemblies, may be needed to perform one-handed attachment.

In various embodiments, an exterior push or pull mechanism, such as spring 216, is used to push the vent cover towards the structure against tension in the rigid rod. Such push mechanisms include a spring, a screw, and a shaft gripper, among others, as further described below with respect to FIGS. 2B, 3, 4A, and 4B. The push mechanism is coupled with the portion of the rigid rod on the exterior of the vent cover to force the vent cover firmly against the wall or structure in which the air vent is located. In various embodiments, a pull mechanism may be employed, anchored to the rigid rod at one end and attached to the vent cover at the other end, to pull the vent cover towards the air vent. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many elastic members may be used to either push or pull the vent cover towards the air vent, using the rigid rod as an anchor point and the vent cover as the moving part with respect to the rigid rod. Such elastic components include springs, rubber bands, and the like.

The attachment and push or pull mechanisms are configured to be easily operated with one hand from outside the vent cover, and also to attach the vent cover remotely from a distance where it cannot be reached or touched by hand directly. In various embodiments, in operation, an operator grabs the vent cover assembly with one hand, for example, by holding handle 214, places the edge of the vent cover having gasket 212 against the structure around air vent 202, presses the air vent cover towards the structure with sufficient force to activate or load the push mechanism against the exterior of the vent cover, engages the attachment mechanism with the grill bars, for example by pushing and turning the rod with a hook on its interior end, locks the push mechanism in a loaded state (for example by turning the handle to engage a spring-loaded locking pin on the handle), and let go. The same operation may substantially be performed in the same manner with a handle extension coupled with the handle 214, in situations that the operator cannot reach the air vent by hand, such as high ceilings or walls.

The push mechanism, for example a push spring, is constrained on one side at its end towards the exterior end of the rod, and is constrained on the other side at its end resting on the exterior of the vent cover, thus exerting a continuous force on the exterior of the vent cover against a tensile force in the rod which is constrained itself at the grill bars. In this configuration, there is no need for the operator to reach inside the vent cover with one hand to manually hook or otherwise attach the rod to the vent grill, while holding the vent cover assembly with the other hand. He can hold and attach the air vent quickly and easily with one hand.

In various embodiments, blower 228 may be coupled to vent cover 204 via air hose 226 to pressurize the HVAC air ducts during leakage testing. Once the vent cover is tightly installed over the vent, a blower or other source of high-volume pressurized air may be activated to pressurize the ducts. Then the pressure drop in the ducts over time may be measured as an indication of the amount of leakage from the ducts.

FIG. 2B shows an example cross sectional view of section A-A of air vent cover of FIG. 2A. In various embodiments, cross sectional view of vent cover arrangement 250 includes air vent 252, air vent cover 254, rod 256, sealed hole 258, hook 260, gasket 262, handle 264, spring 266, grill rods 268, and air hose 268.

In various embodiments, the operator grabs the air vent cover assembly with one hand by handle 264, presses vent cover 254 towards and around air vent 252, turns the handle to engage hook 260 with grill bars 270, locks spring 266 in depressed position using a locking mechanism in the handle, such as a shaft gripper, a spring-loaded side pin in the rod or handle, or any other known and suitable mechanism which may be locked with one hand, and then let go of the vent cover assembly. The same operation may be substantially performed using extension handle 222 (FIG. 2A) and without grabbing the handle 264 manually.

FIG. 3 shows an example cross sectional view of an air vent covered with a screw operated vent cover. In various embodiments, cross sectional view of vent cover arrangement 300 includes air vent 302, air vent cover 304, rod 308, handle 310, rod screw threads 308, and handle rotation direction 312.

In various embodiments, the push mechanism includes a threaded rod mating with a complementary threaded handle that when turned causes the base of the handle towards the exterior surface of the vent cover to push the vent cover towards the air vent against a tension in the rod, which is firmly attached to the grill bars, thus created in reaction to the push. In all other respects the operation of the vent cover assembly is the same as described above with respect to FIG. 2A.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show example cross sectional views of an air vent covered with vent cover operated with shaft grip mechanisms. FIG. 4A shows an example shaft grip mechanism in which the shaft is firmly gripped to prevent slippage of handle along the shaft using a side rod as also used in a set screw mechanism. In various embodiments, configuration 400 includes air vent 402, vent cover 404, rod 406, handle 408, spring loaded side rod 410, and side rod spring 412.

In various embodiments, side rod 410 is built into the handle and may be disconnected from the body of main rod 406 by depressing it, rotating it, or other simple and known mechanisms which may be operation by one hand or finger. Once the side rod is disengaged from the main rod, handle 408 may be pushed towards the air vent against the exterior surface of the vent cover. When the handle is sufficiently firmly pushed against the vent cover, the side rod is released to firmly engage the main rod and prevent handle 408 from slipping with respect to the main rod, thus keeping the air vent firmly pressed against and around the air vent. In all other respects the operation of the vent cover assembly is the same as described above with respect to FIG. 2A.

FIG. 4B shows an example shaft grip mechanism in which the shaft is firmly gripped to prevent slippage of handle along the shaft using an elastic strip mechanism with oval or oversized holes through which the rod passes. In various embodiments, configuration 450 includes vent cover 454, rod 456, and elastic strap 458 having oversized (with respect to the rod diameter) holes 460 and bending point 466. Elastic strap 458 may be deformed by force to assume depressed shape 462 and disengaged holes 464.

In various embodiments, initially, in its free position, elastic strap 458 tends to have an open angle at its bending point 466 constrained by holes 460 gripping rod 456 by frictional force between the inner edges of the holes and the rod. In this free position, holes 460 are oriented in a slant position or plane with respect to the rod. If the strap is pushed down to force further bending and a sharper angle at the bending point 466, the oversized holes 460 change their orientation with respect to the rod to a more vertical plane (with respect to the rod) and disengage and lose contact with the rod, enabling the whole strap to slide along the length of the rod.

In operation, the operator pushes down on elastic strip 458 to cause a sharper bend in the strap and deform it to assume shape 462 and causing the holes in the strap to a vertical plane with respect to rod 456. In these positions holes 464 are too lose or big for the rod allowing the elastic strap 458 to slide on rod 456 towards vent cover 454 pushing the vent cover firmly to air vent. When vent cover is firmly positioned around the air vent, the operator can release the elastic strap. The release causes the elastic strap to bounce back to its original shape 458 making the holes 464 go back to a slant position with respect to rod 456, thus holding the position of the strap on the rod and preventing the strap from slipping backwards away from the vent cover. This gripping mechanism firmly holds the vent cover against the air vent.

Changes can be made to the claimed invention in light of the above Detailed Description. While the above description details certain embodiments of the invention and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the claimed invention can be practiced in many ways. Details of the system may vary considerably in its implementation details, while still being encompassed by the claimed invention disclosed herein.

Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the claimed invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the claimed invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the claimed invention.

The above specification, examples, and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended. It is further understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

While the present disclosure has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cover for an air vent opening, the cover comprising: an interior space configured to enclose the air vent opening; a hole in a surface of the cover configured to allow a rod to pass through the hole; and a rigid rod passing through the hole and elastically coupled with the surface of the cover using an elastic coupling, having an attachment mechanism at a first end of the rod to temporarily attach to a part of the air vent opening.
 2. The cover of claim 1, further comprising an extension handle configured to be coupled with a second end of the rod, and an air hose inlet configured to provide pressurized air within the cover.
 3. The cover of claim 2, wherein the extension handle is configured to apply the cover without direct hand contact with the cover.
 4. The cover of claim 1, wherein the cover is constructed from transparent material.
 5. The cover of claim 1, wherein the cover is configured to be used with one hand to cover the opening.
 6. The cover of claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism is one of a hook, a magnet, or both.
 7. The cover of claim 1, wherein the elastic coupling comprises a compression spring, a tension spring, or an elastic band, attached at one end to the surface of the cover and at the other end to the rod.
 8. The cover of claim 1, wherein the cover further comprises a gasket to cover the opening in an air-tight manner.
 9. A cover for an air vent opening, the cover comprising: an interior space configured to enclose the air vent opening; a rigid rod passing through a surface of the cover having a first end and a second end, the rigid rod being elastically coupled with the surface of the cover; and an extension handle configured to be coupled with the second end of the rod to allow operation of the cover at a distance without direct hand contact with the cover.
 10. The cover of claim 9, further comprising an attachment mechanism coupled with the first end of the rigid rod configured to be temporarily attached to the air vent opening.
 11. The cover of claim 10, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises one of a hook, a magnet, and/or a suction cup.
 12. The cover of claim 10, wherein the attachment mechanism is configured to be activated with one hand.
 13. The cover of claim 9, wherein the elastic coupling comprises a compression spring, a tension spring, or an elastic band, attached at one end to the surface of the cover and at the other end to the rod.
 14. The cover of claim 9, further comprising a gasket to provide an air-tight enclosure around the air vent opening.
 15. The cover of claim 9, wherein the cover is transparent.
 16. The cover of claim 9, wherein the elastic coupling is made of any elastic material.
 17. A method of covering an opening, the method comprising: applying force to a rigid rod elastically coupled with and passing through a vent cover, wherein the vent cover encloses the opening and wherein the rigid rod detachably engages a grill covering the air vent opening;
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising using an extension handle to cover the opening at a distance without direct hand contact with the vent cover.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein engaging the grill uses one of a hook, a magnet, and suction cup.
 20. The method of claim 17, wherein the elastic attachment uses one of a spring, a screw, and a shaft gripper. 